Thrilling Croker Night Life

Dublin 0-10 Tyrone 0-11

By Denis O'Brien

Tyrone's second half comeback to pip hosts Dublin was every bit as brilliant as the Croke Park flood-lights that turned night into day for the first time in the stadium's epic history.

The stadium lights added sparkle to Dublin's North side and the night time fare was anything but dull in the first ever GAA game to be played under flood lighting at headquarters.

Tyrone down by five at the break put in a storming second-half display that saw them hang on by a point at the death. Dublin, reeling from the northerner's turbo charged come-back and down by two with three minutes of normal time remaining, regrouped and nearly had the equalizer when Colin Moran shot wide of the mark.

Before this, Tyrone had looked a changed team from their lethargic first half effort and by the third quarter Sean Kavanagh was controlling things in the middle of the park and influential center forward, Eoin Muillgan leveled the sides on 60 minutes. It was all Tyrone now and minutes later right wing forward, Ray Mulgrew sent over a fantastic point from the Hogan stand side to see his team ahead. Dublin efforts late in the game came close but Tyrone's ability to step up a notch when needed was the difference in the sides.

This clash had been highly anticipated after last year's debacle that saw tempers flare and red cards delivered en masse and with the added historic spectacle of a floodlit headquarters, it was no surprise to see a packed crowd of 81,678 for the Croker late night extravaganza.

Dublin were first to show and by the first quarter were four points to the good on a scoreline of 0-5 to 0-1. Dublin's lead attacker, center forward, Alan Brogan was causing havoc in the Tyrone defense while Dublin's own rearguard held solid, with corner back Paul Griffen in particular shining.

The Hill was singing by half time with their heroes a comfortable five points in the clear. Life was good for the mighty blue clad army.

But things changed and changed fast on the restart. Tyrone brought it back to a three point lead after points from Mulligan and Mulgrew. The sides swapped a brace by the 50th minute but Dublin weren't the force of that first period and wouldn't get another score until the 68th minute -hardly a recipe for success.

The Tyrone engine was well and truly motoring at this stage and with Sean Kavanagh powering forward with every attack and Mulligan, Mulgrew and Colm Kavanagh running roughshod over the Dublin half back line, Dublin's night stage was in a state of crisis.

Minutes later, a great run forward by the Red Hand's, center back Dermot Carlin, produced an inspirational point and soon after the excellent Sean Kavanagh sent over another while sub Colm McCullogh made in three on the trot to leave the northerners just one behind with fourteen left to play.

Dublin now were on the rails while Tyrone seemed to be getting onto every ball but their shooting let them down as they drove three wides in a row and one wondered 'would those be costly?'

We would soon have our answer. A poor Dublin ball out of defense saw Eoin Mulligan pounce and he finished with aplomb for the equalizer. With 10 minutes remaining, momentum was squarely with the Red Hand while Dublin needed help. Ray Mulgrew then shot his second point of the night, a beauty, to see his side into the lead for the first time before further Tyrone pressure saw Mulligan convert a placed ball to put them two ahead.

Dublin finally stirred themselves with a well taken Kevin Bonner point to leave just the one between the sides with two minutes left to play.

Dublin had a goal chance immediately when a dipping goal-bound shot caused problems for Tyrone keeper, McConnell, the ball deflected off his head as he reached down to gather before it hopped luckily into the path of a defender and safety.

Tyrone held on in injury time and the spirit of this comeback can only be good for confidence and resolve in the league ahead.

Dublin meanwhile will have been disappointed with their second half display before the home crowd on this special occasion. But it's early days yet in the league with plenty of time left for the Dubs to collect their thoughts and get things right next time.